Air conditioning apparatus



P. KOMHDFF AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Fled'Oot. 2l, 1937 4- Shwets-Shet 3L FME .0%

, (h WI INVENTOR PAUL MQMRUFF Si M5 March 18, 194%. P, KOMROFF AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS* Filed 061;. 2l, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 18, 1941. P, KOMRQFF AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed 001'.. 2l, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR www PAUL /foMRoFF a ATT RNEY .G5 RAE@ Mar. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES AIR CONDITIONDTG APPARATUS Paul Komroff, New Rochelle, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to American Radiator & Standard Sanitary Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application October 21, 1937, Serial No. 170,167

V11 claims.

This invention relates to air conditioning apparatus.. and more particularly to mechanisms for operating the dampers controlling the admission of outside air; the present case being directed to the same general type of apparatus as is disclosed and claimed broadly in U. S. Patent No. 2,209,800, granted July 30, 1940, to Matson C. Terry.

'The invention consists in the novel construclfl tion and combination of parts, to be more fully described hereinafter, and the novelty of which vill be particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed.

In the accompanying drawings to be taken as l5 a part of this specification, I have fully and clearly illustrated a preferred embodiment of my inmentlon, in which drawings- Fig. 1 is a transverse vertical section showing air conditioning apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention, the section being taken on the line I-l of Fig. 3;

Fig. 2 is also a transverse vertical section of the air conditioning apparatus, the section bei taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and showing the parts on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line4--4 of Fig. 3, and with the scale the same as Fig. 3

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing in detail the construction of the damper;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section through the heat motor used for automatically closing the damper, the section being taken lon the line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. '7 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view showing a modified form of my invention as elnbodied in air conditioning apparatus of the type usually installed in a room of a building remote from the room to be conditioned;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the lefthand end of the apparatus as viewed in Fig. 'I

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the structure which is shown at the left-hand end of Fig. '7, with certain of the parts being broken away and with the cover removed to show more clearly the damper operating mechanism; and

Fig. 10 isa fragmentary transverse vertical section taken on the line III--III of Fig. 9.

Referring now in detail to the construction i1- lustrated, and rst to the embodiment of my invention disclosed in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, the reference numeral III indicates air conditioning apparatus of the unit-type which is adapted to be arranged within a room space of a building adjacent a wall thereof having a window, and which is adapted to receive outside air through an opening defined bythe partially raised window sash. The window is indicated at II and the window sash at I2.

'Ihe unit I0 comprises a casing I3 which is adapted to rest on the floor of the room, and includes a top wall I4, a. bottom wall I5, a front 5 Wall I6, a rear wall I1, an end wall I3 and an end wall I9. The interior of the casing is divided by spaced vertical partition walls 2II and 2I into a central section 22 and end or wing sections 23 and 24, respectively (see Fig. 3).

In the rear of the top wall I4 and extending across the central Section 22 is an air inlet open ing 25 which communicates with the room space. A second air inlet opening 26 is provided at the upper and extreme rear of the casing, and also extends for the length of the central section 22. The inlet opening 26 is connected to the outside atmosphere by a duct section 21, communicating at one end with the inlet opening 26 and extending rearwardly from the casing I3, and communicating at its other end with an opening 30 defined by the lower sash rail 3l of the window sash I2 and the window sill 32. In the forward part of the top wall I4 is provided an air outlet opening 33 which also extends for the full length of the central section 22 and communicates with the room space.

Connecting the inlet openings 25 and 26 with the outlet opening 33 is a U-shaped passage 35 defined by the partition walls 20 and 2|, the front wall I5,'the rear wall I'I, and by a vertical partition wall 3B arranged in spaced parallel relation with the walls I6 and I1 and depending from the top wall I4 at points between the inlet opening 25 and outlet opening 33.

It is to be observedat this point that in so far as the broader aspects of my invention are concerned, the U-shaped passage 35 may be considered as a part of a main air passage 38 connectn ing the outside atmosphere with the room space, the other part of such main air passage 38 being provided by the duct section 21.

Arranged below the inlet openings 25 and 26, and extending diagonally across the U-shaped passage 35, is a suitable filter 40 which functions to remove solid particles, such as dust, dirt, pollen and the like, from the air flowing through the U-shaped passage 35. Arranged below the lter 40` is a suitable cooling element, here shown to be in the form of a conventional type of cooling coil 4I, through which a refrigerant 'fluid is adapted to be circulated during the summer season. Any suitable type of refrigerant may be supplied to the interior of the coil 4I, such, for example, as sulphur dioxide, Freon, or the like.

Arranged in the lower part of the U-shaped passage 35 is a motor-driven blower 42 which provides for the positive ow of air through the duct 21, the U-shaped passage 35 yand into the room through the outlet opening 33. Arranged e0 in the upper and outlet end of the U-shaped passage and directly below the outlet opening 33 is a heating coil 43 which may be of any conventional construction and may be supplied with any suitable kind of heating fluid, for example, steam or hot water.

The apparatus so far described is of the same general type as is disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,214,467, granted September 10, 1940, to Robert D. Lambert, et al. The operation of apparatus of this type is as follows: During the summer or warmer months of the year, a suitable refrigerant fluid is supplied to the interior of the coil 4I; and the air flowing through the U-shaped passage 35 and into the room space will therefore be reduced in temperature as it flows over the exterior surfaces of the coil 4I. During the winter time, the supply of refrigerant is shut oi from the coil 4| and a suitable heating iiuid is supplied to the interior of the coil 43. Then, the air flowing through the U-shaped passage 35 and into the room through the outlet 33 will be increased in temperature as it passes over the exterior surfaces of the coil 43 and will therefore serve to maintain the desired comfort condition in the room space.

In apparatus of this type, it is highly desirable,

both in summer and in winter, that the proportional amounts of outdoor air and room air entering the U-shaped passage 35 through the inlet openings 25 and 26 be carefully regulated. It is also highly desirable both in summer and winter to shut off the supply of outdoor air in case the element which is operating to condition the air, fails to operate. 'I'he latter is desirable in the summer time so that when the cooling coil 4l is shut 01T, the desired temperature condition in the room space will not be seriously affected due to admission of warm outside air. This is also desirable in the winter time for the reason that admission of cold outside air, when the heating coil 43 is not operating, will cause cold drafts in the room, and thereby disturb the desired comfort condition. Another important reason why outside air should not be admitted to the room during cold weather when the heating coil 43 is shut off, is that it might result in the freezing and consequent damaging of those parts of the unit which contain water.

A In order that the proportionate amounts of room air and outside air flowing through the inlets 25 and 26, respectively, may be properly regulated, I provide a damper means, indicated in general by the reference character 45vand comprising a horizontal shaft part 46 journaled in the partition walls 20 and 2l at points between the inlet openings 25 and 26, and a damper element 41 fixed at its upper longitudinal edge to the shaft part I46 and movable between two extreme positions, one of which closes the opening 26 and opens wide the opening 25 and the other of which closes the opening 25 and opens wide the opening 26. The damper element is shown in a mid portion in Fig. 1 and in a position closing the inlet opening 26 and opening wide the opening 25 in Fig. 4.

The shaft part 46 is here shown .as comprising a pair of stub shafts 48 and 49 which are Journaled in the walls 20 and 2l, respectively, and whichare fixed to the damper element 111 by screws 50 extending through a flange 5l of an angle 52, the latter extending longitudinally of the upper part of the damper element and being fixed to the latter by a plurality of spaced bolts 53 (see Figs. 3 and 5).

The stub shaft 49 is pro- A vided with an extension 54 which extends through the wall 2l and into the end compartment 24 of the casing I3 (see also Fig. 2).

In accordance with the present invention, I

provide a manually-operated means for placing the damper element 41 at any preselected position desired by the operator of the apparatus. This means comprises a device for constantly urging the damper element toward the extreme position to open wide the inlet opening 26, and incidentally the main air passage 38, and also comprises a manually adjustable stop device for limiting movement of the damper element 41 by the urging device to any preselected position.

The urging-device is here shown as comprising a counterweight 55 secured to the damper element '41 by two of the bolts 53 which also serve to secure the angle lmember 52 to the damper element 41, these two bolts 53 passing through the element 41 and through a flange part of foot 56 provided on the counterweight 55. As can be seen from Figs. 1, 4, and 5, the counterweight 55 is so arranged with respect to the damper as to constantly urge the damper toward the position where the inlet opening 26 is full-open and the inlet opening 25 is full-closed.

The manually-adjustable stop device for limiting movement of the damper element 41 by the counterweight 55 to any one of a number of selected positions is here shown as comprising a longitudinally movable rod 51 connected to the damper element 41 by a flexible chain 58 and bracket 59 (see Fig. 4)'. The rod 51 is adapted to be moved lengthwise forwardly and rearwardly by hand, and to this end is provided at its forward or outer end .with a suitable knob 60. The rear of the rod 51 is supported for lengthwise movement by a bracket 6l having an opening 62 through which the rod extends. The forward end of the rod 51 extends through an opening or slot 63 in a wall 64 of the duct 21, and the underside of the rod 51 is provided with a series of spaced notchesv 65, each of which is adapted to engage, when desired, a stop element in the form of a vertical plate 66 fixed to the inside surface of the wall 64 and projecting slightly above the bottom of the slot 63. The upper part of the plate 66 is spaced from the top of the slot 53 sufficiently to permit the rod 51 to be raised to a point where the notches 65 may clear the plate 66 and the rod 51`moved lengthwise as desired to any selected position.

It will thus be seen that as .the damper element 41 is constantly urged by the counterweight 55 towards the extreme position where the inlet opening 26 is open, the chain 58 is always kept taut, and any movement of the rod 51 inwardly or outwardly will result in movement of the damper element 41 to close and open the inflet 26. In order to secure proper transmission of forces between the rod 51 and damper element 41 for opening and closing the latter, the chain 58 passes over a pulley 68, which is supponted by a suitable bracket 69 from the wall 64.

In order to assure the tight closing of the inlet opening 26, a strip 16 of a relatively soft material, such, for example, as felt, rubber or the like, is secured to the damper element 41; and a strip 11 of simi-lar material vis secured to the rear wall l1 of the casing i3 and adapted to bev engaged by `the strip 1i) when the damper closes the inlet opening 26.

In order to make certain that the inlet opening 26 is closed tight when the plate 66 engages a notch 65 at the forward end of the rod 51, the

bracket 'lill is secured to the d-'amper element 4i by a lost-motion. screw-and-slot connection. 'lhis connection is provided by screws 12 passing through slots 13 -in the element t1 and into threaded openings in a flange 14 of the bracket tt. With .the screws 12 loosened, the bracket til may be moved, as permitted .by the slots "it,

pto obtain the proper relationship between the 'sponse to the temperature of the air flowing from the heating coil 43, and will operate to close automatically the inlet opening 28 when the temperature of the 'air flowing from lthe coil is reduced to a point where it indicates that the supply of heating uid has been shut off from the coil t3.

llin so far as the broader aspects of this invention are concerned, :the conditioning element may be either the heating or the cooling coil. 'lihe express-ion an operating characteristic oi the air conditioning element or means as used herein and in the appended claims, is intended to mean .any condition which reflects the operation of the air conditioning means; `that is Ito say, any condition which indicates or shows whether or not the air conditioning means is operating, or its degree of operation, or the air conditioning effect produced by the air conditioning means because of its operation. Oneexample of an operating characteristic of the air conditioning means would be the temperature of the air leav-` ing the heating coil d3, as described above. The temperature od the air leaving the coil changes with the heat output of the coil and thereby indicaites whether or not the coil is operating. Other examples of operating characteristics of an air conditioning means would be the surface temperature of a heating or cooling cofll; the ,temperature of a heating or cooling medium nowing through a heating or cooling coil; the rate oi flow of a cooling or heating medium through a coil; and ythepressure of the fluid inside oi a coil as in the case of a steam coil and in the case of a refrigerant ln a cooling coil. Obviously, any operating characteristic of the air conditioning means may be used as a. source of control for .the opening and closing of the damper llt, without departing from the intended scope oi the present invention.

The means for automatically moving'l the damper element 41 to close the inlet opening it, comprises a thermostat 80 positioned in the passage 35 above :the heating coi1 43, a heat motor tl connected in series in an-e1ectric circuit with thethermostat 80, and a flexible chain 82 connected at one end to a lever 83 actuated by l the heat motor 8| and connected at its other end to the outer end of a lever arm 84 which is keyed 4to the extension 54 of the stub shaft 49 to which the damper element 41 is ixe-d. The heat motor 8l, chain 82, lever 83 and lever arm 84 are advantageously positioned outside of the main air passage 35 and in the wing section 24 ofthe casing I3 (see Figs. 2 and 3).

The thermostat 80 may .be of any suitable construction. The one here shown operates to malntain the aforementioned electric circuit closed when the temperature oi .the air nowing from the coil it is at a value which indicates that there is heating medium in. the coil; and, operates to open such electric circuit when the temperature falls to a value which indicates that the supply of heating :medium has been cut ou from the coil 48.

The structural detalls oi the heat motor 8l can be understood more readily from an examination of Figs. 2 and 6. 'lQhe heat motor 8l comprises a housing 86 arranged within the .wing section 24 and fixed .to ythe partition wal-l. 2i by suitable screws 81. Within the housing 86 is positioned a heating element 88 which comprises a chamber 89 surrounded by an electrical resistance element B connected in series in the circuit controlled by the thermostat 80.v Within the housing 88 is also located a cylinder Si secured at one end to .the top wall 92 of the housing 86, and within the cyl-lnder lll is located an expansible bellows 83 fixed at one end to the top wa'll 92 and connected at its other and movable end to an operating rod 9d, the latter extending longituclinalfly through .the bellows 93 and protruding through an opening 35 in the top wall 92.'

Encirclirrg the operating rod 9d is a compression spring 86 which abuts at one end the top wall of the housing and abuts at its other end Ithe movable end od the bellows tt.

The interior oi' the bellows tt communicates with the atmosphere through the opening tti and the 'construction is such that fluid in the cylinder tl mnnot leak into the bellows. The interior of the cylinder tl is in communication with-the interior oi the chamber tt by a suitable capillary tube tl and the interior of the chamber, the cylinder, andthe tube are charged with any suitable eupanslble huid, such, for example, las acetone, alcohol, ethyl chloride, or the like.

When .there is heat in the coil llt and the thermostat llt closes the electrical circuit containing rthe resistance element till, the latter heats and vaporizes the huid in the -chamber tt. .ds a result, the pressure ci the fluid in the chamber tt, cylinder tl and tube til increases and the bellows is contracted against the torce of the l spring tt and moves :the operating rod tt upwardly, as viewed in Fig. 6. 'When the supply of heating medium is cut oil from the coil t8 and the thermostat 8d opens the electrical circuit, the vapor-ized duid inthe chamber til condenses, .thereby lowering the pressure of the uicl in the cylinder diI and permitting the spring to expand again the bellows 93 and move .the rod t4 to a lower position. shown in the drawings corresponds to the compressed or contracted position of the bellows.

'The upper end of the rod 94 is operatively connected to the lever 83, and the latter is supported by a iulcrum pin 98 passing through a aicket 88 iixecl to .the top wall 82 of thf'e housing end rto one end of thelever 83, and at its other end to the end of the lever arm 84. When the heating element 88 -is energized and the rbellows 83 contracted, the rod 84 moves the lever 83 to its upper position which is shown in Figs. 2 and 5, and in this position the chain 82 is slack; unless, of course, the damper element 41 is in .the position where the opening 28 is full-open. In the latter case, there will be no slack in chain 82. When the element 88 is deenergized, the' spring 88 expands the bellows 93 andpulls the rod 84 and lever 83 down to a lowennost posi- As stated, the chain 82 is connected at one The position oi the parts as tion, thereby pulling taut .the chain 82, and moving the lever arm 84, stub shaft 49, and damper element 41 against the force of the counterwelght `55 and to the position where the inlet 26 is fullclosed. In the latter position, Ithe chain 58 will be slack, unless the rod 51 is in the position where the damper element 41 had been previously closed `by hand. In order that the .force may be properly transmitted between the lever 83 and lever arm 84, the chain 82 passes over an idler pulley |00 suitably supported by the wall 2 I.

From the above, it will be apparent .that the damper element 41 may be pasitioned at any preselected point yby the manual adjustment of the rod 51, and ia-s long as there is heat in the coil 43, the damper element will stay in this preselected position; but, when the supply of heating fluid is shut off from the coil 43, the thermostat and heat motor 8| will act automatically to fmove the damper element 41 .to the position where the opening 26 and main air passage 38 are closed. When the coil 43 is again supplied withv aheating medium, the element 88 will become energized, the lever 83 moved to the upper position shown in Figs. 2 and 5, and the chain 82 will become slack, and fthe counterweight 55 will return the damper element to the position preselected by the :position of the manually adjustablerod 51. v

In Figs. 7 to 9 inclusive of the drawings, I'have shown a slightly modified form of my invention as embodied in air conditioning apparatus of the type which is adapted to bel installed in a place remote from the'room to be conditioned. The air conditioning apparatus is indicated in general by lthe reference character IIII and is connected at one end to the ends of a pair of air inlet ducts and II2 and at its other end to one end of an outlet duct ||3. The inlet duct -is adapted to be connected at its other end to the room .to be conditioned and serves rto return air from the room to the conditioning apparatus. The inlet duct ||2 is adapted to be connected at its other end to the outside atmosphere and serves to supply outdoor air to the conditioning apparatus. The outlet or discharge duct I|3 is 'adapted Ito be connected at its other end to the room Ito be conditioned and serves to supply such room with the conditioned air so as to maintain the desired comfort condition therein.

The apparatus IIO is provided with an -air passage ||5 extending longitudinally .therethrough and connected at one end to Ithe inlet ducts I I and II2 and .at its other end to the outlet duct II3. It is to be observed at this point that Ithe passage ||5 may be considered as a par-t of a main air passage ||6 connecting the outside atmosphere with the room space to be conditioned, the inlet duct II2 and the outlet duct I I 3 forming ythe other parts of this main air passage.

The air in flowing through the apparatus I I0 passes serially through a mixing chamber |I8 where fthe streams of entering outdoor air and return' room air are mixed; through a filter IIS,

-which removes foreign particles from the air,

such as dust, dirt, etc.; a cooling coil |20, of the same general type as the coil 4| previously described and which operates in the summer time to lower the temperature of the air flowing thereover; a humidifying chamber |2I having a water spray device |22 located therein which operates during the winter time .to increase the humidity of the air; a suitable `type of eliminator |23 which operates to eliminate free moisture from the air flowing from .the chamber |2| when the spray |22 is operating; a heating coil |25 of the same general .type as the coil 43 previously described and which operates .to increase the `temperature of the air flowing thereover during the winter time; and a blower |26 which provides for the .positive flow of air through the ducts and II2, passage IIS, duct ||3 and into the room. The blower |26 is operatively connected by a suitable flexible driving belt |21 with an electric motor |28.

In order to regulate the amounts of return room air and outdoor air flowing into the passage ||5, the ducts and II2 are provided with damper means |30 and I3I, respectively. The damper means |30 may be manually adjusted to any desired position by a knob |32 xed to a damper shaft I 33 journaled in the walls of the duct and to which a damper element |34 is fixed.

The damper means I3| serves to regulate the amount of outdoor air flowing through the main air passage I I6. As was the case with the damper means 45 of the previously described modification, the damper means |3| may be adjusted manually to any desired preselected position, and will close automatically in response to changes in an operating characteristic of an air conditioning element in the apparatus I |0 when such element fails to operate.

The damper means |3| comprises a shaft part |40 extending transversely across the duct II2 and journaled in opposite walls of said duct and having an extension |4| at one end thereof at the outside of the duct. The damper means I3I also comprises a damper element |42 arranged within the duct II2 and fixed to the shaft |40 by suitable screws |44, so that the element I 42 is movable with the shaft to regulate the air flow through the duct ||2.

As stated, I provide a manually adjustable means for placing the damper at any preselected position. This means comprises a device for constantly urging the damper element |42 to its wide open position and a manually-adjustable stop device for limiting movement of the damper element by the urging device to any preselected point.

The urging device is in the form of a counterweight |45 xed to the extension |4| of the damper shaft |40- by a set screw |46, and having a projection |41 extending inwardly from the counterweight toward the adjacent wall ofthe duct II2 and adapted to engage the manually adjustable stop device. A

The stop device comprises a'plate member |48 xed with respect to the ducty ||2 and including an arcuate-shaped channel part 50 arranged with itstopen side facing said duct. An arcuate slot |5| is provided in the closed side of the channel |50. The channel |50 and slot I5I are so shaped that they fall within an arc Whose center is the axis of the shaft |40. The stop device also comprises an adjusting arm |52 loosely pivoted at one end on the extension |4| and having at its other end a portion |53 adapted to be grasped by the hand of the operator for manual adjustment. The arm |52 is normally movable about its pivotal connection with the extension |4I; but may be fixed vat any point in its movement by a screw bolt |54 and wing nut |55. The bolt |54 is provided with a head |56 arranged within the channel |58 and a threaded4 shank which extendstoutwardly through the f to anonce slot ltl and an ong in the arm Itt. The wing nut |55 engages the threaded outer end ci the shanlr, as shown. TBy loosening the wing nut',

fthe arm |52 and boit |54 may be moved about the airis of the shaft |40 and for the length of the slot lil, andthe arm |52 may be hxed at any desired point in its movement by simply tightening the wing nut |55, the latter resulting in the arm |52 and plate |48 being clamped tightly together.

'lhe arm |52 is in the path of movement of the inwardly extending projection |41 on the counterweight |45. The projection |41 will normally engage the arm |52. Therefore, as the counterwelght is fixed to the damper shaft, the damper element |42 may be positioned by hand at any preselected point by simply adjusting the position of the arm |52, in the manner previously described.

its stated previously, I also provide a means ior automatically moving the damper element lill to, its full-closed position when a selected conditioning element of the apparatus ilu fails to operate. As in the previously described modihcation, this air conditioning element is shown as being the heatingY coil |25. The means for automatically closing the damper element V|42 when the heating coil fails to operate', comprises a suitable thermostat |60 clamped to the heating coil, a heat motor |6| connected in series in an electric circuit with the thermostat |60, and a horrible chain |62 connected at one end to a lever ltd operated by the heat motor |t| and connected at the other end to a lever arm ltd lined to the damper shaft. In this modication, the lever arm ltd is formed integral with the counterwelght and the part thereof to which the chain itl is attached is an outwardly-extending projection ltll.

"ll'he thermostat ltd operates in response to the temperature oi the coil |25 and is ofthe type which is adapted to maintain an `electric circuit closed as long asthere is heat in the coil llt, and to open the circuit when the supply of heat is cut oil" from. the coil |25..

The component elements of the heat motor itl are similar in construction and operate in the same manner as the corresponding elements of the previously described heat motor 8|. For

this reason, the fdetail construction of certain oi the elements has not been shown. The heat motor |t| comprises an enclosing housing llt ilred with respect to the side Wall oi' the duct l, a heating element |1| supported in the housing |l|l and connected in series in a circuit with the thermostat |60, a cylinder |12 supported by anend wall of the housing and connected by a capillary tube |13 with the interior of the heating element |1|, and an expansible bellows |14 supported at its fixed end within the cylinder |'ll and having an operating rod |15 connected to its movable end and projecting outwardly from an end wall of the housing |10. The outer projecting end of the rod |15 is connected to the lever |63, and the latter is fulcrumed at |16 on a bracket |11 fixed to the end Wall of the housing |10.

ln Fig. 9, the rod |15` and lever |63 are shown in their outermost positions. \In this position, a heating fiuidis being supplied to the coil |25, the thermostat |60 is closed, the bellows |14 is contracted by thepressure of the fluid in the'cylinder |12, and the chain |62 is slack, as shown. With the parts in this positiom the position ol' the damper may be manually changed to any desired point by adjusting the arm |52 in the manner just described.. .ils explained in connection with the operation of the previously described modication, should the supply of heat be cut od from the coil |lb, the thermostat ltd will open its electric circuit, the bellows |14 will be extended, the lever ltd moved inwardly toward the adjacent end wall of the housing and thereby pull taut the chain |62, and the latter will result in moving the lever arm |64, counterweight |45, damper shaft |40 and the damper element |42 to the full-closed position.

In order to simplify assembly and repair, -the heat motor |6| and plate |48 are fixed to a supporting plate |80, and the latter is fixed to the wall of the duct ||2 by suitable screws lill. The ends of the supporting plate are provided, respectively, with outwardly projecting flanges |82 which receive clamping screws |33. The damperoperating mechanism is suitably enclosed by a detachable cover |84, the screws |83 serving to clamp the outer parts of the end walls of the cover against the flanges |32 and thereby hold the cover firmly in place. Ili'he cover is provided in its bottom with a slot itt through which the lower end of the arm |52 extends. In operation, the proper position of the damper element |42 is determined, the wing nut |55 tightened to hold the parts in their adjusted position, and the cover |84 then secured in position. then operate automatically to close the damper element when the supply of heating huid is shut oir from the coil llt and to open the damper element to the preselected position when the heating :duid is again supplied to the coil lb..

lll/hat ll claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent ol' the United States is:

l. In air conditioning apparatus, the combination ol means denning an air passage adapted to connect the outside atmosphere with a room space; air conditioning means in said passage; a damper in said passage and movable between full- The mechanism will open and lull-closed positions for regulating the flow of air through said passage; a counterweight connected to said damper and positioned to constantly urge the latter towards full-open position; a manually adjustable stop device for limiting movement oi said damper by said countervveight to any one oi a number oi selectedpositions; and means acting in response to changes in an operating characteristic of said air conditioning means for moving said damper from any preselected open position toward its closed position upon a given reduction in output of said air conditioning means.

2. In air conditioning apparatus, the combination of means defining an air passage adapted to connect the outside atmosphere with a room space; air conditioning means in said passage; damper means in said passage for regulating the flow of air through said passage and including a damper element and a supporting shaft therefor providing for movement of the damper element about a fixed axis between full-open and fullciosed positions; a counterweight xed to said damper means and arranged to urge said damper element constantly toward full-open position; a manually adjustable stop device for limiting movement of said damper element by said counterweight tov any one of a number of selected positions; and means acting in responsel to changes in an operating characteristic of said air conditioning means for moving said damper element from any preselected open position toward its closed position upon a given reduction in output of said air conditioning means; said last-named means comprising a motor device, a lever actuated by said device between two extreme positions, and a flexible element connecting said lever and said damper means, the lever having suflicient l length of movement and the exible element being long enough tomove the damper element against the force of the counterweight from its full-open position to its full-closed position.

3. In air conditioning apparatus, the combination of means defining an air passage adapted to connect the outside atmosphere with a room space; air conditioning means in said passage; a damper in said passage and movable between fullopen and full-closed positions for regulating the flow of air ythrough said passage; means for constantly urging the damper towards full-open position; a manually adjustable stop device for limiting movement of said damper by said urging means to any one of a number of selected positions; said device comprising a stationary stop element, a rod adapted to be moved lengthwise by hand and having a plurality of spaced notches formed therein and corresponding in number to the selected positions of the damper and adapted to removably engage said stop element, and a flexible element connected at one end to said rod and at its other end to said damper so that lengthwise movement of the rod results in movement of said damper; and means acting in response to changes in an operating characteristic of said air conditioning means for moving said damper from any preselected open position toward its closed position upon a given reduction in output of said air conditioning means,

4. In air conditioning apparatus, the combination of wall means defining an air passage adapted to connect the outside atmosphere with the room space; lair conditioning means in said passage; damper means arranged within said passage and including a shaft arranged transversely of said passage and rotatably supported by said wall means, and a damper element fixed to said shaft and movable therewith between full-open and full-closed positions for regulating the flow of outside air through said passage; said damper shaft including a part extending through said wall means and arranged exteriorly of the passage; means for constantly urging said damper element towards full-open position; manually operated means for moving said damper element to any one of a plurality of selected open positions; and means acting in response to changes in an operating characteristic of said air conditioning means for moving said damper element from any preselected open position toward its full-closed position upon a given reduction in output of said air conditioning means; said last-named means being arranged outside of said passage, and comprising a motor device supported by the outside of the wall means through which the shaft part extends, a first lever movable by said device between two extreme positions, a second lever fixed to said .extending shaftpart, and a flexible element connecting -said levers, the levers being so arranged and having sufficient length of travel and the flexible element being of a length to move the damper element from its full-open position to its full-closed position.

5. In air conditioning apparatus, the combination of wall means defining an air passage adapted to connect the outside atmosphere with the room space; air conditioning means in said passage; damper means arranged within said passage and including a shaft arranged transversely of said passage and rotatably supported by said wall means, and a damper element fixed to said shaft and movable therewith between fullopen and full-closed positions for regulating the flow of outside air through said passage; said damper shaft including a part extending through said wall means and arranged exteriorly of the passage; a counterweight secured to said damper means and positioned to constantly urge the damper element towards full-open position; a manually adjustable stop device for limiting movement of said damper element by said counterweight to any one of a number of selected positions; and means acting in response to changes in an operating characteristic of said air conditioning means for moving said damper element from any preselected open position toward its full-closed position upon a given reduction in output of said air conditioning means; said lastnamed means being arranged outside of said passage, and comprising a motor device supported by the wall means through which the shaft part extends, a first lever movable by said device between two extreme positions, a second lever ixed to said extending shaft part, and a flexible element connecting said levers, the levers being so arranged and having sufficient length of travel and the flexible element being of a length to move the damper element from its full-open position to its full-closed position.

6. In air conditioning apparatus, the combination of means dening an air passage adapted to connect the outside atmosphere with a. room space; air conditioning means in said passage; damper means in said passage and including a damper elementv movable between full-open and full-closed positions for regulating the flow of air through said passage; means providing a flexible seating surface for said Adamper element to prevent leakage of air when the damper element is in closed position; means for constantly urging said damper element towards full-open position; a manually adjustable stop device for limiting movement of said damper element by said urging means to any one of a number of selected positions; said device comprising a stationary stop element, arod adapted to be moved lengthwise by hand and having a plurality of spaced notches formed therein and corresponding in number to the selected positions of the damper and adapted to removably engage said stop element, a exible element connected at one end to said rod and at its other end to said damper means so that lengthwise movement of the rod results in movement of said damper ele-l ment, and means providing a lost-motion takeup connection between the rod and damper means so as to assure flrm closing of the damper element when the stop element engages within an end notch on said rod; and means acting in vvresponse to changes in an operating characteristic of said air conditioning means for moving said damper element from any preselected open position toward a closed position upon a given reduction in output of said air conditioning means.

7. In air conditioning apparatus, the combination of means defining an air" passage adapted to connect the outside atmosphere with a room space; air conditioning means in said passage; damper means in said passage and including a damper element movable between full-open and full-closed positions for regulating the flow of air throughsaid passage; means providing a ilexible seating surface for said damper element to prevent leakage of air when the damper elementis in closed position; means for constantly urging said damper element towards full-open position; a manually adjustable stop device for limiting movement of said damper element by said urging means to any one of a number of selected positions; said device comprising a stationary stop element, a rod adapted to be moved lengthwise by hand and having a plurality of spaced notches formed therein and corresponding in number to the selected positions of the damper element and adapted t0 removably engage said stop element, a exible element, means for connecting one end of said flexible element to said rod, a bracket connected to the other end of said flexible element, and means providing a screwand-slot connection between the bracket and damper element for taking up slack in said flexible element when said damper element and rod are in closed position; and means acting in response to changes in an operating characteristic of said air conditioning means for moving said damper element from any preselected open position toward its closed position upon a given reduction in output of said air conditioning means.

d. .dn air conditioning unit comprising a casing structure having a room air inlet opening in the upper and rear part thereof, an outdoor air inlet adjacent the room air inlet and at the rear of said casing, and a room air outlet in the upper and front part of said casing; a duct extending rearwardly from the upper rear part of said casing and adapted to connect said outdoor air inlet with the outside atmosphere; damper means including a damper element supported for movement about a substantially horizontal pivot located between said room air and outdoor air inlets and operable between two extreme positions, one of which closes the outdoor air inlet and opens the room air inlet, and the other of which opens the outdoor air inlet and closes the room air inlet; means in said casing dening a passage connected at one end to said outdoor and room air inlets and connected at the other end to said room air outlet; means providing for the positive ow of air through said passage; air conditioning means in said passage; a counterweight fixed to said damper means and arranged to constantly urge said damper element towards said other extreme position; a manually adjustable stop device for limiting movement of said damper element by said counterweight to any one of a number of selected positions; and means acting in response to changes in an operating char-v acteristic of said air conditioning means for moving said damper element from any preselected position other than said one extreme position toward said one extreme position upon a given -reduction in output of said air conditioning means.

9. In air conditioning apparatus, the combination of wall means defining an air passage adapted to connect the outside atmosphere with a room space; air conditioning means in said passage; damper means in said passage for regulating the How of air through said passage, and including a shaft arranged transversely of said passage and rotatably supported by said wall means, and a damper element fixed to said shaft and movable therewith between full-open and full-closed positions; said damper shaft including a part extending through said wall means and exteriorly of said passage; a counterweight fixed to said exteriorly extending shaft part and arranged to constantly urge said damper. element towards full-'open position, and including as a part thereof a lever arm; a manually adjustable stop device for limiting movement of said damper element by said counterweight to any one of a numberpf selected positions; and means acting in response to changes in an operating characteristic of said air conditioning means and connected to said lever arm for moving said damper element yfrom any preselected open position toward vits full-closed position upon a given reduction in output of said air conditioning means.

10. In air conditioning apparatus, the combination of wall means defining an air passage adapted to connect the outside atmosphere with a room space; air conditioning means in said pas- CTI lll

sage; damper means in said passage for regulating the flow of air through said passage, and including a shaft arranged transversely of 'said passage and rotatably supported by said wall means, and a damper element xed to said shaft and movable therewith between full-open and full-closed positions; said damper shaft including a part extending through said wall means and exteriorly of said passage; a counterweight iixed to said exteriorly extending shaft part and arranged to constantly urge said damper element towards full-open position, and including as a part thereof a lever arm and a projecting stop element; a manually adjustable stop device adapted to be engaged by the stop element at different desired points and thereby limit movement of said damper element by said counterweight to any one of a number of selected positions and means acting in response to changes in an operating characteristic of said air conditioning means and connected to said lever arm for moving said damper element from any preselected open position toward its full-closed position upon a given reduc:

tion in output of said air conditioning means.

11. In air conditioning apparatus, the combination of wall means defining an air passage adapted to connect the outside atmosphere with a room space; air conditioning means in said passage; a damper in said passage for regulating the flow of air through said passage, and including a shaft arranged transversely of said passage and rotatably supported by said wall means, and a damper element fixed to said shaft and movable therewith between full-open and full-closed positions; said damper shaft including a part extending through said wall means and exteriorly of said passage; a counterweight fixed to said exteriorly extending shaft part and arranged to constantly urge said damper element towards full-open position, and including as a part thereof a lever arm and a stopelement projecting toward said wall means; an arm loosely pivoted on said shaft adjacent said wall means and adapted to be engaged by said stop element; and means for securing said arm at any one of a number of selected` points so as to limit movement of said damper by said counterweight to any one of a number of selected positions; and means acting in response to changes in an operating characteristic of said air conditioning means and connected to said lever arm for moving said damper from any preselected open position toward its fullclosed position upon a given reduction in output of said air conditioning means.

PAUL KOMROFF. 

